Public Buildings in Milwaukee ($ 88,000), and Jackson, Miss. ($20,000), 108,000.00 No. 1. Ch. I. An Act for the better Preservation of Life and Property from Vessels shipwrecked on the Coasts of the United States. The Secretary of the Treasury may, in his discretion, establish additional stations on the coasts of Long Island and New Jersey, and furnish the requisite apparatus and supplies. He may appoint at each of the stations a superintendent, who shall act as inspector of the customs, and a keeper, at a salary of $200. He may also establish stations, in his discretion, at light-houses. No boat shall be purchased and located, except on the above-named coasts, unless placed in the immediate care of an officer of the government, or unless a bond is given by individuals in the neighborhood for its proper care and preservation. December 14, 1854. No. 2. Ch. V. Springs therein. 1846, ch. 89, § 7. An Act to relinquish to the State of Wisconsin the Lands reserved for Salt No. 3. Ch. VI. An Act allowing the further time of two years to those holding Lands by Entries in the Virginia Military District in Ohio, which were made prior to January 1, 1852, to have the same surveyed and patented. December 19, 1854. No. 4. Ch. VII. An Act to provide for the Extinguishment of the Title of the Chippewa Indians to the Lands owned and claimed by them in the Territory of Minnesota and State of Wisconsin, and for their Domestication and Civilization. The President may negotiate for the extinguishment of such title, and the treaties shall contain the following provisions, and such others as may be necessary to carry them into effect: 1st. To each head of a family there shall be granted, in fee simple, a reservation of eighty acres of land, to be selected, by those entitled, in the territory ceded, after the completion of the surveys. The reservation shall be patented by the President, and the patent shall express that said lands shall not be alienated or leased, by the reservees, their heirs, or legal representatives, until otherwise ordered by Congress; and no change of location shall be made without the assent of the President. 2d. The annuities to said Indians, under existing treaties, with the consent of said In dians, and under the provisions of this act, shall be equally distributed and paid at their villages and settlements within the ceded territory; but the President may commute, at bis discretion, as will most conduce to their comfort, civilization, and permanent welfare, said annuities for articles of goods, provisions, cattle, agricultural implements, clearing &c. land, and erection of buildings. 3d. Mixed bloods of the tribe, permanently residing on the ceded lands, shall enjoy the benefits of this act, the same as the full bloods. 4th. The laws of the United States and of Minnesota shall extend to said territory when ceded, and the act of 30th June, 1834, ch. 161, except section 20, shall be inoperative. 5th. The President may make and enforce regulations not inconsistent herewith, and the same shall be annually reported to Congress. $10,000 are appropriated to meet the expenses of the negotiations. December 19, 1854. No. 5. Ch. X. An Act to authorize the Issue of Patents to Lands in any State or Territory, in certain cases. Where claims to land have been confirmed, and the confirmatory statute has made no provision for the issue of patents therefor, patents may issue after surveys made, to operate only as a relinquishment of the title of the United States, but not to interfere with any valid adverse right. December 22, 1854. No. 6. Ch. XV. An Act to suppress the Circulation of Small Notes as a Currency in the District of Columbia. If any person, body politic or corporate, within said District, shall "make, emit, issue, utter, sign, draw, or indorse any bank-note, promissory note, or any instrument of writing for the payment or delivery of money, or other valuable thing, or of anything purporting to be a valuable thing, of less amount than $5, to be used as a paper currency, or as a circulating medium, either as money or in lieu of money or of any other currency, every such person, and every member, officer, or agent of such body politic or corporate concerned in, or assenting to, such making," &c. shall forfeit $10 for each bank-note, &c. so made, &c., one half to go to the person suing, and the other half to the county of Washington in said District. At any trial under this act, if the instrument in question be in part or in the whole printed or engraven, it shall be sufficient evidence of intention to put the same in circulation in violation of this act; unless the contrary be shown. The passing or offering to pass any such instrument in said District is forbidden, under a penalty of not less than $5 nor more than $10 for every offence, one half to the use of the person suing, and the other half to the county. If the person or corporation "that made, emitted, issued, uttered, signed, drew, or indorsed" any such instrument, shall, upon presentation, neglect or refuse to redeem the same in gold or silver, such party shall forfeit $20 for each and every such instrument so presented, and neglected or refused to be redeemed, to the use of the party holding and presenting the same. Forfeitures under the foregoing provision may be recovered in an action of debt before any justice of the peace in said District, and each justice is specially authorized by this act to try such cases. On the trial of any cause, other than a criminal prosecution, under this act, the court may examine as a witness any defendant to any such suit, his agent or employer, touching the matter in controversy. All contracts of which any paper currency under $5, or any of the currency forbidden by this act, forms the consideration in whole or in part, are illegal and void. In any suit on such contract, if the defendant makes oath that he cannot prove the nature or consideration of such contract, the court shall require the plaintiff to testify in regard to the transaction; and if the plaintiff is not present at the trial, it shall postpone the cause until his attendance can be had. If any trader or person dealing or acting under a license from the authorities in the District shall receive or pay out any paper under $5, or any paper not payable in specie on demand, prohibited by this act, upon proof thereof, on process instituted by the United States Attorney for the District, he shall forfeit his license, and cannot have any other license for any purpose for one year. The Marshal and constables of the District shall give information to some justice of the peace of any known violation of this act. This act shall take effect on and after November 1, 1855. Decem ber 27, 1854. No. 7. Ch. XVIII. An Act vesting the Title of the United States to certain Lands in the City of Cincinnati. The title is vested in said city, and in any other occupants of the same, in severalty, upon payment of the minimum price of land subject to entry, saving all legal and equitable rights of third persons. December 29, 1854. No. 8. Ch. XIX. An Act to provide for the Contingent Expenses of the Territory of Nebraska. $1,000 are appropriated for the rest of the fiscal year, but not more in the whole than $1,500 to be expended for contingencies during the said year. December 30, 1854. No. 9. Ch. XX. An Act giving the Consent of Congress to the Cession by the State of Massachusetts to the State of New York of the District of Boston Corner. The land ceded was in the southwesterly corner of the State. January 3, 1855. No. 10. Ch. XXI. An Act for the Liquidation of the Penitentiary Indebtedness. $7,186.92 appropriated therefor. January 3, 1855. No. 11. Ch. XXIII. An Act to amend an Act entitled An Act to establish an Auxiliary Watch for the Protection of public and private Property in the City of Washington, approved 23d August, 1842. Each of the auxiliary watch shall receive for pay $600 a year. January 3, 1855. No. 12. Ch. XXV. An Act to continue in force for a limited time the Provisions of the Act of Congress of March 3, 1851, and the 2d Section of its Supplement of January 18, 1854, so as to enable the Board of Land Commissioners in California to close their Adjudications of private Land Titles, and for other Purposes. They are continued in force for one year and no longer, from March 3d, 1855. The United States District Attorney for the Northern District of California may employ assistant counsel in land suits, at a salary of not over $3,600 per annum, and two clerks, at not over $ 150 a month each, their services not to be continued longer than needed, and not more than one year. Either of the Commissioners may issue a subpoena for the attendance of witnesses, and punish contempt in refusing obedience thereto. January 10, 1855. No. 13. Ch. LV. An Act making Appropriations for the Construction of certain Military Roads in the Territories of Nebraska and Washington. For one from the Great Falls of the Missouri to intersect the road now leading from Walla Walla to Puget's Sound, $30,000; for one from the Dalles of the Columbia to Columbia City Barracks, $25,000; for one from said Barracks to Fort Steilacoom, on Puget's Sound, $30,000: said roads to be built under the direction of the Secretary of War. February 6, 1855. No. 14. Ch. LXX. An Act changing the Appropriation for the Erection of a Building in the City of Milwaukee for a Custom-House, Post-Office, and the United States Courts. A building of stone or brick, with fire-proof floors, at a cost of not over $88,000, and this sum, with 10 per cent over for superintendence and contingencies, is appropriated. February 10, 1855. No. 15. Ch. LXXI. An Act to secure the Right of Citizenship to Children of Citizens of the United States born out of the Limits thereof. Persons heretofore or hereafter born out of the limits and jurisdiction of the United States, whose fathers, at the time of the birth of said persons, were citizens of the United States, are made citizens of the United States; but the right of citizenship shall not descend to persons whose fathers never resided in the United States. "Any woman who might lawfully be naturalized under the existing laws, married, or who shall be married, to a citizen of the United States, shall be deemed and taken to be a citizen of the United States." February 10, 1855. No. 16. Ch. LXXIII. An Act to divide the State of Ohio into two Judicial Districts, and to provide for holding the District and Circuit Courts of the United States therein. The counties of Belmont, Guernsey, Muskingum, Licking, Franklin, Madison, Champaign, Shelby, and Mercer, and all the State lying south of said counties, form the Southern District; and the rest of the State, the Northern District. The present District Judge shall be Judge of the Southern District, and the present Attorney and Marshal shall be the Attorney and Marshal of the Northern District. The present Attorney shall retain charge of all suits already commenced, unless the President otherwise direct. All suits not of a local nature shall be brought in the district where the defendant resides. If in the same suit there be defendants in each district, the plaintiff may sue in either. For the times and places of holding the courts, see ante, pp. 121, 125. February 10, 1855. No. 17. Ch. XCVI. An Act to divide the State of Illinois into two Judicial Districts. The counties of Hancock, McDonough, Peoria, Woodford, Livingston, and Iroquois, and all north of said counties, form the Northern District; and the present Judge, Attorney, Marshal, and Clerk shall continue in this district. The rest of the State forms the Southern District, for which the proper offices shall be appointed. For the times and places of holding the courts, see ante, pp. 121, 125. February 13, 1855. No. 18. Ch. XCVII. An Act to continue temporarily the Offices of Register and Receiver at Vincennes. Continued until final report of Commissioners under the act of July 27, 1854. February 13, 1855. No. 19. Ch. XCVIII. An Act to refund to the Officers of the Customs and others of the District of Passamaquoddy, certain moneys. The moneys are their proportion of the net proceeds of sale of three vessels condemned for violation of the revenue laws, and paid into the Treasury through mistake. February 15, 1855. No. 20. Ch. CIII. An Act to amend an Act making Appropriations for the Improvement of certain Harbors and Rivers, approved 30th August, 1852. February 14, 1855. No. 21. Ch. CIV. An Act for the Construction of a Military Road in Oregon Territory. From Astoria to Salem, under the direction of the Secretary of War, $30,000. February 17, 1855. No. 22. Ch. CV. An Act making an Appropriation for a Territorial Road in the Territory of Nebraska. For a road from opposite the city of Council Bluffs, on the Missouri River, to New Fort Kearney, $50,000. February 17, 1855. No. 23. Ch. CVI. An Act for the Erection of a Military Post on or near the Pembina River, in the Territory of Minnesota, and for other Purposes. $5,000 are appropriated for such a post on the line of 490 north; and $10,000 for military posts at such points in Kansas and Nebraska as the Secretary of War may designate. February 17, 1855. No. 24. Ch. CVII. An Act to regulate the Salaries of the District Judges of the United States. The salaries of the several Judges, payable quarterly, shall be as follows: of those for the Districts of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Delaware, New Jersey, Iowa, and Wisconsin, $2,000; for the Northern District of Florida, $2,250; for the Western District of Virginia, North Carolina, East, West, and Middle Tennessee, North and South Mississippi, West Pennsylvania, West Louisiana, Texas, Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, Missouri, East and West Arkansas, Illinois, and Michigan, $2,500; for the Districts of Georgia, South Carolina, East Virginia, North New York, and North and South Alabama, $2,750; for the Districts of Maryland, Massachusetts, East Pennsylvania, South Florida, and South California, $3,000; for the East District of Louisiana, $3,500; the Southern District of New York, $3,750; and the Northern District of California, $5,000. February 17, 1855. No. 25. Ch. CVIII. An Act making an Appropriation for completing the Public Buildings of Oregon Territory and Minnesota. $67,000 are appropriated for Oregon, of which $40,000 shall be expended in completing the penitentiary, and $27,000 for the Statehouse. $11,500 are appropriated to complete the Capitol, and build a workshop in the prison in Minnesota. February 17, 1855. No. 26. Ch. CIX. An Act to establish an additional Land District in the Territory of Oregon. The land lying south of the fourth standard parallel is made the Umpqua district; and that north of said parallel is named the Willamette district. February 17, 1855. No. 27. Ch. CX. An Act making Appropriations for improving certain Military Roads in the Territory of Minnesota. $15,000 are appropriated. February 17, 1855. No. 28. Ch. CXI. An Act to provide for the Accommodation of the Courts of the United States for the District of Maryland, and for a Post-Office at Baltimore City, Maryland. The President is authorized to contract for suitable buildings, or sites for buildings, with plans and estimates, &c. All contracts to be subject to the approval of Congress. February 17, 1855. No. 29. Ch. CXII. An Act authorizing the Construction of a Line of Telegraph from the Mississippi or Missouri River to the Pacific Ocean. "Hiram O. Alden and James Eddy, their associates and assigns," are authorized to construct, at their own expense, such line of telegraph, and the right of way, two hundred feet in width, over the public lands to San Francisco, in as direct a line as practicable, is hereby granted. All voluntary or intentional injuries to said line, or to any property thereto belonging, within the territories of the United States, are made wilful and malicious trespasses, and punished as such, and the laws of the United States in any territory, now in force or hereafter to be enacted, applicable to such offences, are extended, for the protection of said line of telegraph, into and over all territory of the United States through which the line may be constructed. February 17, 1855. No. 30. Ch. CXVII. An Act to establish the office of Surveyor-General of Utah, and to grant Land for School and University Purposes. The President may appoint a surveyor, at a salary of $3,000, and direct the location of his office. In each township, when lands are surveyed, sections 16 and 36 are reserved for schools, and a quantity of land equal to two townships is reserved for a university in said Territory, or in the State to be created out thereof. February 21, 1855. No. 31. Ch. XVIII. An Act to provide for the holding an additional Term of the Circuit Court of the United States for the District of Missouri, and for holding special Terms of the District and Circuit Courts of the United States for the Northern District of Ohio. For times and places of holding the courts, see ante, pp. 121, 125. There shall be this year a special term of the Circuit and District Court at Cleveland, for the Northern District of Ohio, on the third Tuesday in March. February 21, 1855. No. 32. Ch. CXXII. An Act to establish a Court for the Investigation of Claims against the United States. A Court of Claims shall be established, consisting of three judges, appointed by the President, with the advice and consent of the Senate, at a salary of $ 4,000, to hold office during good behavior, and to be sworn to support the Constitution of the United States and to faithfully discharge the duties of their office. The court "shall hear and determine all claims founded upon any law of Congress, or upon any regulation of an executive department, or upon any contract, express or implied, with the government of the United States, which may be suggested to it by a petition filed therein; and also all claims which may be referred to said court by either house of Congress." The President, with the consent of the Senate, shall appoint a solicitor for the United States, at an annual salary of $3,500, to represent the government before said court, who shall be duly sworn, &c. "It shall be the duty of said solicitor to prepare all cases on the part of the government for hearing before said court, and to argue the same when prepared; to cause testimony to be taken when necessary to secure the interest of the United States; to prepare forms, file interrogatories, and superintend the taking of testimony in the manner prescribed by said court, and generally to render such services as may be required of him, from time to time, in the discharge of the duties of his office. The court has authority to establish rules and regulations for its government; to issue commissions and appoint commissioners to take testimony, and to prescribe their fees; to issue subpoenas to witnesses to attend before such commissioners; such subpoenas to have the same force as if issued by a United States District Court; and the court may establish rules to compel compliance therewith. The testimony shall be taken at the expense of the party for whom it is taken; if for the United States, the cost shall be paid out of the contingent fund of said court. When it can conveniently be done, the testimony shall be taken in the county where the defendant resides, and the commissioners are authorized and required to administer the oath to the witnesses. If the court shall judge that the facts set forth in the claimant's petition do not furnish any ground for relief, they may refuse to issue a commission to take testimony therein, until they have reported it to Congress. If Congress fails to confirm their opinion, they shall then proceed to take the testimony. In taking testimony, the party against whom it is taken shall have opportunity to file cross-interrogatories or to cross-examine witnesses, under such regulations as the court shall prescribe. Knowingly and wilfully swearing falsely before the court, or the persons authorized to take testimony, is made perjury, and punished as such. The court shall keep a record of their proceedings, and shall report to Congress at the beginning of each session, and of each month during the session, the cases upon which |